The importance of proper adjustment of safety bindings

The ski bindings in 50 consecutive patients with fractures of the lower leg were tested. All patients had broken the leg while skiing at two of Sweden's most popular ski resorts. There were 21 boot top fractures, 20 spiral fractures of the tibial shaft, eight malleolar fractures, and one fracture of the lateral tuberosity of the tibia. The tension required for release of the bindings laterally at the toe and vertically at the heel was measured and compared with the values recommended by the International Association for Skiing Safety. The ski bindings in no less than 49 of the 50 patients did not release in both directions at a tension 10 per cent higher than the recommended values. The ski bindings of 50 skiers randomly taken from a ski lift queue at one of the ski resorts studied were tested for comparison. The bindings in 48 of these 50 persons were found to be overadjusted; i.e., their bindings did not release in both directions at values comparable to those recommended by IAS. An analysis of the series stresses the need for bindings releasing also laterally at the heel, with a consistent release mechanism and a tamperproof tension adjustment screw.